Follow UK on smoking in cars – Stroke and Asthma Foundations

New Zealand should heed the
example set by the UK parliament yesterday and ban smoking
in cars when children are passengers, said the Stroke and
Asthma Foundations’ today.

“Second hand smoke is a
major cause of ill health for children and eliminating their
exposure to it in the confined space of a car is one of best
ways we can reduce smoking related illness,” said Stroke
Foundation, National Health Promotion Manager, Julia Rout.
“The British government has committed to protecting
children from this unacceptable hazard and New Zealand
should follow suit.”

UK MPs voted by 376 votes to 107 to
ban smoking in cars carrying children and health ministers
have pledged to enforce the ban by 2015. The legislation
will cover England and Wales – Scotland already has a
private members bill going through its own parliament.

“New Zealand has been in the frontline of eradicating
smoking in public places and it must not be left behind on
this,” continued Mrs Rout. “Adults have a duty to
protect children and smoking in the enclosed space of a car
beside them is incredibly harmful to young lungs. Those who
would defend the freedom to smoke in the private space of a
car cannot justify forcing children to breathe poisonous
tobacco smoke.”

Medical director for the Asthma
Foundation Dr Kyle Perrin says "many childhood respiratory
diseases are worsened by exposure to cigarette smoke.
Children in cars where an adult is smoking are effectively
trapped, and the negative effects on their respiratory
system are increased. This occurs even if a window is
open."

More than 350 New Zealanders die each year due to
exposure to second-hand smoke. There is no safe level of
exposure to second-hand smoke and those who are exposed may
suffer from many of the same diseases as regular smokers
including stroke, asthma, coronary heart disease and lung
cancer.

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